Overseas Strength Boosts McDonald's February Sales

McDonald's (MCD) posted a better-than-expected 4.8% rise in February same-store sales Monday, helped by robust gains in Europe and Asia and fractional uptick in the U.S.

Same-store sales, a key retail gauge measuring sales at locations open at least a year, rose 0.6% domestically last month despite snow storms hitting much of the East. An Olympic-themed Chicken McNugget promotion, the Breakfast Dollar Menu and McCafe beverages aided results, the company said.

In Europe, same-store sales rose 5.4% for the month, led by strength in France and the U.K. As for the rest of the world, same-store sales jumped 10.5%, led by strong results in Japan, China and Australia. The celebration of Chinese New Year in many markets contributed to the month's performance, McDonald's said.